This training series adds the research-based concepts of early childhood education that are critical to literacy and school readiness, such as executive function and social emotional learning, to inform the teaching of the six cognitive skills - - listening comprehension, expressive language, print motivation, narrative skills, phonological awareness and print awareness - - that form the basis of Read, Talk, Sing, Write and Play.

Each cognitive skill is therefore highlighted during this series at each developmental stage of a child, ages birth to five, within the context of early childhood educational best practices. 

These skills are best taught and modeled during the course of early literacy programming when a librarian:

1. builds strong, lasting relationships with families
2. models and fosters interactions that are responsive to children’s developmental needs
3. creates welcoming and engaging environments for children and their families to learn and play in

For a more detailed explanation of NYPL’s early literacy approach, please see the next section, “NYPL Early Literacy Philosophy and Approach."

The four modules of this training are:

1. Foundational Knowledge - Basic early childhood concepts that are important foundations to all early literacy work
2. Family Engagement: Story time - Best practices during story time to engage caregivers in creating literacy-friendly worlds for their children
3. Family Engagement: Family Literacy Workshops - Best practices in adult education workshop techniques for engaging caregivers in creating literacy-friendly worlds for their children 
4. Partnering with Early Childcare Providers - Best practices in working with early childhood providers to enhance literacy activities in daycare, pre-school and other early childhood environments